diff --git a/docs/spec.md b/docs/spec.md
index 4534e15..fa5ed4b 100644
--- a/docs/spec.md
+++ b/docs/spec.md
@@ -49,6 +49,7 @@ The following list of keywords cannot be used as names, due to their significanc
 * string
 * true
 * type
+* typeas
 * typeof
 * var
 * while
@@ -117,12 +118,11 @@ var t: type = int;
 var u: t = 42;
 ```
 
-To force a type instead of an array, use the `type` keyword:
+To force a type instead of an array, use the `typeas` keyword:
 
 ```
-var a = [type type]; //array of types
-var b = type [type]; //type of array of types
-var c = [type]; //error!
+var a = [typeas type]; //array of types
+var b = typeas [type]; //type of array of types
 
 var d = b; //types can be re-assigned to other variables
 ```
diff --git a/scripts/test/imports-and-exports.toy b/scripts/test/imports-and-exports.toy
index 0225dc1..e05bf03 100644
--- a/scripts/test/imports-and-exports.toy
+++ b/scripts/test/imports-and-exports.toy
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@
 {
 	import t;
 
-	assert typeof t == type type, "type retention failed";
+	assert typeof t == type, "type retention failed";
 }
 
 print "All good";
diff --git a/scripts/test/types.toy b/scripts/test/types.toy
index a2bd3d3..6ccc920 100644
--- a/scripts/test/types.toy
+++ b/scripts/test/types.toy
@@ -7,15 +7,15 @@ assert u == 42, "first-class types are screwing with values";
 
 
 //differentiate by the "type" value
-var v: type = type [int];
+var v: type = typeas [int];
 var w = [int];
 var x = v;
 
 assert w == [int], "defining an array of types failed";
-assert x == type [int], "re-assigning a type value failed";
+assert x == typeas [int], "re-assigning a type value failed";
 
 //complex type
-var complex: type = type [string : [int]];
+var complex: type = typeas [string : [int]];
 var dict: complex = [
 	"first array": [1, 2, 3],
 	"second array": [4, 5, 6],
diff --git a/source/keyword_types.c b/source/keyword_types.c
index 07bab6e..269ff25 100644
--- a/source/keyword_types.c
+++ b/source/keyword_types.c
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@ KeywordType keywordTypes[] = {
 	{TOKEN_PRINT,      "print"},
 	{TOKEN_RETURN,     "return"},
 	{TOKEN_TYPE,       "type"},
+	{TOKEN_TYPEAS,     "typeas"},
 	{TOKEN_TYPEOF,     "typeof"},
 	{TOKEN_VAR,        "var"},
 	{TOKEN_WHILE,      "while"},
diff --git a/source/parser.c b/source/parser.c
index a8262ca..47751ec 100644
--- a/source/parser.c
+++ b/source/parser.c
@@ -120,11 +120,11 @@ static void parsePrecedence(Parser* parser, Node** nodeHandle, PrecedenceRule ru
 static Literal readTypeToLiteral(Parser* parser);
 
 //the expression rules
-static Opcode forceType(Parser* parser, Node** nodeHandle) {
+static Opcode typeAs(Parser* parser, Node** nodeHandle) {
 	Literal literal = readTypeToLiteral(parser);
 
 	if (!IS_TYPE(literal)) {
-		error(parser, parser->previous, "Expected type after 'type' keyword");
+		error(parser, parser->previous, "Expected type after 'typeas' keyword");
 		freeLiteral(literal);
 		return OP_EOF;
 	}
@@ -509,6 +509,17 @@ static Opcode atomic(Parser* parser, Node** nodeHandle) {
 			return OP_EOF;
 		}
 
+		case TOKEN_TYPE: {
+			if (match(parser, TOKEN_CONST)) {
+				emitNodeLiteral(nodeHandle, TO_TYPE_LITERAL(LITERAL_TYPE, true));
+			}
+			else {
+				emitNodeLiteral(nodeHandle, TO_TYPE_LITERAL(LITERAL_TYPE, false));
+			}
+
+			return OP_EOF;
+		}
+
 		default:
 			error(parser, parser->previous, "Unexpected token passed to atomic precedence rule");
 			return OP_EOF;
@@ -736,7 +747,8 @@ ParseRule parseRules[] = { //must match the token types
 	{NULL, NULL, PREC_NONE},// TOKEN_OF,
 	{NULL, NULL, PREC_NONE},// TOKEN_PRINT,
 	{NULL, NULL, PREC_NONE},// TOKEN_RETURN,
-	{forceType, NULL, PREC_PRIMARY},// TOKEN_TYPE,
+	{atomic, NULL, PREC_NONE},// TOKEN_TYPE,
+	{typeAs, NULL, PREC_PRIMARY},// TOKEN_TYPEAS,
 	{typeOf, NULL, PREC_CALL},// TOKEN_TYPEOF,
 	{NULL, NULL, PREC_NONE},// TOKEN_VAR,
 	{NULL, NULL, PREC_NONE},// TOKEN_WHILE,
diff --git a/source/token_types.h b/source/token_types.h
index a04b591..76b3180 100644
--- a/source/token_types.h
+++ b/source/token_types.h
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@ typedef enum TokenType {
 	TOKEN_PRINT,
 	TOKEN_RETURN,
 	TOKEN_TYPE,
+	TOKEN_TYPEAS,
 	TOKEN_TYPEOF,
 	TOKEN_VAR,
 	TOKEN_WHILE,
diff --git a/test/sample_code.toy b/test/sample_code.toy
index e6a2e4a..6cc47ed 100644
--- a/test/sample_code.toy
+++ b/test/sample_code.toy
@@ -1,8 +1,8 @@
 
 
 
-var complex: type = type [string: [int]];
-var deep: type = type [[[ int ]]];
+var complex: type = typeas [string: [int]];
+var deep: type = typeas [[[ int ]]];